Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Cooper Cleaning Up DHS IT

    By
    Renee Boucher Ferguson
    -
    October 13, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Among the challenges the U.S. Department of Homeland Security faces is connecting the IT systems of the 22 agencies under its umbrella.

      Tasked with making that happen is DHS CIO Steve Cooper, who last week laid out a plan for rationalizing the departments more than 300 back-office applications, 1,000 servers and 1,000 telecommunications circuits in testimony at a House committee hearing in Washington.

      In conjunction with a federal enterprise architecture initiative Cooper previously worked on, the DHS has developed an IT consolidation plan for the department that comprises four parts: an “as is” architecture characterization, a business model, a target architecture and a transition strategy for migration.

      The business model bridges the gap between a departments mission and IT operations by identifying common activities that can be automated, Cooper told the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census.

      The target architecture, which will evolve over time, is geared toward enabling quick business changes through a service-oriented, component-based architecture using commercial off-the-shelf applications, for the most part.

      Consolidation steps

      • “As is” architecture characterization
      • Business models
      • Target architecture
      • Transition strategy for migration

      DHS last month started the transition strategy, which essentially implements conceptual projects.

      Cooper said he found significant overlap and duplication of efforts within the DHS. Not surprisingly, agencies were found to have redundancies in human resources, financial management, procurement and some mission-specific software. At the same time, the department has significant overlaps in IT initiatives. Fourteen credentialing systems were identified, for example, as were at least eight systems supporting port-of-entry management.

      Even with a plan in place, the challenges of integrating the disparate divisions are daunting. Cooper said the biggest issues are cultural, with a goal of moving the department away from entrenched stovepipe legacy thinking to one that embraces “one DHS/one enterprise architecture. … A collaborative approach will ensure that overlapping business processes and data needs are identified.”

      Renee Boucher Ferguson

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×